Leg-brace.



PATBNTED OCT. 17, 1905.

R. R. NORWOOD.

LEG BRAGE APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23, 1905.

Babertfl Norma/2 Attorneys,

UNITE STATES ATENT FFTQFJ.

ROBERT R. NORWOOD, OF MINERALWELLS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOELISHA V. ONEALL, OF MINERALWELLS, TEXAS.

LEG-BRACE- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1905.

Application filed June 23, 1905. Serial No. 266,660.

To all 1072 0121, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT R. N ORWOOD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mineralwells, in the county of Palo Pinto and State ofTexas, have invented a new and useful Leg-Brace, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to a brace for the treatment of anchylosis in theknee-joint.

The object of the invention is to provide an appliance of the characterspecified which will be thoroughly effective in supporting the leg,

' giving forcible extension to the foot each time it is raised from theground, thereby to cause the joints stiffened by anchylosis to becomesupple and resume their normal functions.

A further object is to prevent any interruption of the circulation ofthe blood through the limb, whereby the normal condition of the limbtreated may be maintained under all conditions.

A further object is to dispense with the employment of girdles orencircling bands in holding the brace in position upon the limb, wherebydiscomfort in use is obviated and any tendency to interrupt circulationis prevented.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the natureof the invention is better understood, the same consists, generallystated, in a brace of the character described embodying a pair ofsupporting members and a plurality of semibands or loops arranged onopposite sides thereof.

The invention consists, further, in the various novel details ofconstruction of a legbrace. as will be hereinafter fully described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts,Figure l is a view in perspective exhibiting a human leg with the braceof the present invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a view inperspective of the brace viewed from the opposite side of that shown inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view of a slightly-modified form ofsupporting member.

The structure comprises two supporting members each consisting of astrip of flexible material 1, preferably of leather, and constituting,in effect, a splint, and a reinforcing member 2, preferably a resilientwire. Each reinforcing member 2 consists of a length of wire of suitablediameter secured at the lower end of the splint by a rivet 3, whichpasses through an eye 4, formed by loopingthe wire upon'itself, therivet being upset in the splint, thus to insure a positive assemblage ofthe reinforcing member therewith. The latter member is continued upalong one edge of the splint to a point near its top, where it is bentupon itself, as at 5, thence continued down adjacent to theoppos'iteedge of the splint to a point near the bottom thereof, where it is bentupon itself, as at 6, and thence continued up to a point near the top ofthe splint, where it terminates adjacent to the bend 5. The upper end ofthe reinforcing member is held combined with the splint by having theupper terminal of the latter folded over the bend 5, as shown at 6, andby passing a rivet 7 through the overturned portion of the splintbetween the bend 5 and clenching it to the body of the splint, as shownat 8. The reinforcing member is further positively combined with thesplint by keepers 9, 10, 11, and 12, each of which consists of a lengthof leather looped around the reinforcing members, as shown in Fig. 1,and positively com bined with the splint by a rivet or rivets 13, onerivet being shown used in connection with the keepers 9 and 12 and tworivets used in connection with the keepers 10 and 11.

Connected with the supporting members are five semibands 14, 15, 16, 17,and 18, the bands 15 and .16 being adapted to be disposed above andbelow the knee-cap, and the bands 14:, 17, and 18 being adapted tooccupy a position at the rear of the leg slightly above the knee and atpoints adjacent to the angle. Each of the semibands is constructed ofleather, and has its edges beveled, as at 19, thus to prevent discomfortin use, the splints being similarly beveled at 20 for the same purpose.The semibands are held combined with the splints by adjusting-straps 21,22, 23, 2 1, and 25, each of which is provided at one terminal with abuckle and at its other terminal with a plurality of orifices to engagethe buckle-tongue to hold the strap under the desired tension, and thestraps are secured to the semibands by rivets 26. The strap 21 engagesthe bend 5 of the reinforcing member and is held against downwardmovement by the keeper 9. The straps 22 force and are disposed betweenthe keepers and 11, and are thus held against upward and downwardmovements, respectively. The strap 24 engages the lower bends 6 of thereinforce and isheld against upward movement by the keepers 12, and thestrap 25 engages the lower portion of the reinforce. The reason forcombining the straps 21, 22, 23, and

24 with the supporting member in the manner described is positively tohold them against movement, so that when the semibands are once adjustedupon a limb there will be no danger of slippage.

It will be seen by arranging the semibands in staggered orderthat is tosay, alternately on opposite sides of the legthat all danger ofinterfering with the circulation is prevented, and, furthermore, nodiscomfort in use will result, which would be inevitable if the girdlesor encircling bands were employed for holding the appliance in position,as these would have to be drawn sufficiently tight to hold them frommovement, and would thus inevitably interfere with the circulation, andthus cause pain in use of the appliance.

A further feature of novelty is that by having the semibands relativelybroad and the attaching-straps 21 to 25, relatively narrow these latterwill not contact with the limb, but will only serve to force the broadsemibands against the limb, and these latter will not cause anyuncomfortable sensation in walking.

In order to prevent accidental separation of the semibands from thesupporting members when the appliance is not in use, the buckles arepreferably connected to short straps 27, which are combined on one sidewith the supporting members in the same manner as the lastnamed straps.

As herein shown, the reinforce member is constructed of a single pieceof wire bent in the manner described; but it is to be understood thatunder some conditions where an ex tra amount of force is required inflexing the limb the reinforce should be stronger, and to meet thisemergency each of these members may be made of two ormore wires withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, or, as shown in Fig. 3, thereinforcing member 27 may be made of a single length of wire formed atits center with an eye or loop 28,

and having one terminal bent upon itself to form a loop 29, the ends ofthe member being secured to the splint 30 by rivets 31. This form ofsupporting member will be found thoroughly eflicientin use in some caseswhere excessive strain is not required upon the limb.

While the device has been described as particularly adaptable for use inthe treatment of anchylosis of the knee, it is to be understood that itis adaptable for use in treating other weaknesses of the knee or leg,and therefore the invention is not to be limited to treatment for anyparticular ailment.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that although theimprovements herein defined are simple in character they will bethoroughly efficient for the purposes designed and will result, withoutcausing pain, in effecting the gradual but positive straightening of thelimb and at the same time restoring its natural functions.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A braceembodying a pair of supporting members, and a plurality of semibands orloops arranged on the opposite sides thereof.

2. A brace embodying a pair of supporting members and a plurality ofadjustable semibands or loops arranged on the opposite sides thereof.

3. -A brace embodying a pair of reinforced supporting members and aplurality of adjustable semibands arranged on opposite sides of themembers and combined with the reinforces.

4. A brace embodying a pair of reinforced supporting members, and aplurality of semibands arranged on opposite sides of the members andcombined with the reinforces.

5. A brace embodying a pair of splints, longitudinally-disposedreinforces combined with the splints, keepers secured to the splints andoperating to hold the reinforces in position thereon, and semibands orloops held in position by the keepers and by the reinforces.

6. A brace embodying a pair of splints, exteriorly-disposed reinforcescombined therewith, keepers encircling the reinforces and secured to thesplints, a plurality of semibands, and straps secured to the semibandsand engaging the reinforces and held in proper position by the keepers.

7. A brace embodying a splint and a reinforcing member combinedtherewith and comprising a length of wire having its intermediateportion formed into an eye, and one of its terminals formed into a loop.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiiXedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBT. R. NORWOOD.

Witnesses:

J. E. CUNNINGHAM, LYOURGUS SMITH.

